Latest news with #PrimeTimeLive
UPI
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Roy Black, Jeffrey Epstein lawyer, dies at age 80
July 25 (UPI) -- Roy Black, the lawyer who defended high-profile clients including Justin Bieber and Jeffrey Epstein, and gained national attention by winning an acquittal in the 1991 William Kennedy Smith rape trial, has died at aged 80, his law partner said. Black also represented media personality Rush Limbaugh, race car driver Helio Castroneves and Colombian drug lord Fabio Ochoa, among others. Howard Srebnick, Black's law partner, confirmed Black's passing in a statement to The New York Times. The cause of death was not specified, though Srebnick said he had battled "a serious illness." Smith's 1991 trial became a high-profile criminal defense moment. He was acquitted by a jury after only 77 minutes of deliberation following a 10-day trial. UPI reported at the time that the testimony of 47 witnesses boiled down to evidence of some bruises and conflicting stories from the the accused and the alleged victim in the alleged rape. During the trial, his accuser was blocked on television by a fuzzy blue electronic dot. Later identified as Patricia Bowman, she told Diane Sawyer of ABC's Prime Time Live in a December 1991 interview that she fainted on hearing the verdict. Smith is the nephew of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Sen. Edward Kennedy. Kennedy Smith is now a physician and works with an organization that bans land mines and treats victims injured by them. Black also frequently wrote law-related articles for national publications and appeared regularly on national television shows. Notable deaths of 2025 Hulk Hogan Retired professional wrestler Hulk Hogan reaches out to fans as he arrives at Randall's Wines and Spirits for a signing appearance in St. Louis on in July 2024. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Gene Bollea, Retired professional wrestler Hulk Hogan reaches out to fans as he arrives at Randall's Wines and Spirits for a signing appearance in St. Louis on in July 2024. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Gene Bollea, died July 24, 2025, reportedly of cardiac arrest, in Clearwater, Fla., File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
TimesLIVE
7 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Trump releases Martin Luther King assassination files
The FBI kept files on King in the 1950s and 1960s, even wiretapping his phones, because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the US and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of 'abuse and overreach' in its history. The civil rights leader's family asked those who engage with the files to 'do so with empathy, restraint and respect for our family's continuing grief' and condemned 'any attempts to misuse the documents'. 'Now more than ever, we must honour his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realisation of his dream, a society rooted in compassion, unity and equality,' they said in a statement. 'During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory and deeply disturbing misinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J Edgar Hoover through the FBI,' the family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, said, referring to the then-FBI director. James Earl Ray, a segregationist and drifter, confessed to killing King but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998. King's family said it had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee in 1999 that led to a jury unanimously concluding 'our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme. The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr Ray was set up to take the blame. Our family views the verdict as an affirmation of our long-held belief'. Jowers, once a Memphis police officer, told ABC's Prime Time Live in 1993 that he participated in a plot to kill King. A 2023 justice department report called his claims dubious.
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Trump releases Martin Luther King assassination files
The US Justice Department has released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The files include records from the FBI, which had surveilled the civil rights leader as part of an effort to discredit the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Files have been posted on the website of the National Archives, which said more would be released. King died of an assassin's bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, as he increasingly extended his attention from a nonviolent campaign for equal rights for African Americans to economic issues and calls for peace. His death shook the United States in a year that would also bring race riots, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations and the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy. Earlier in 2025, US President Donald Trump's administration released thousands of pages of digital documents related to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and former president John F Kennedy, who was killed in 1963. Trump promised on the campaign trail to provide more transparency about Kennedy's death. Upon taking office, he also ordered aides to present a plan for the release of records relating to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and King. The FBI kept files on King in the 1950s and 1960s - even wiretapping his phones - because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the US and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of "abuse and overreach" in its history. The civil rights leader's family asked those who engage with the files to "do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief", and condemned "any attempts to misuse these documents". "Now more than ever, we must honour his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realisation of his dream - a society rooted in compassion, unity, and equality," said a statement from King's family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62. "During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation," they said, referring to the then-FBI director. James Earl Ray, a segregationist and drifter, confessed to killing King but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998. King's family said it had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee in 1999 that led to a jury unanimously concluding "that our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme". "The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr Ray was set up to take the blame. Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs." Jowers, once a Memphis police officer, told ABC's Prime Time Live in 1993 that he participated in a plot to kill King. A 2023 Justice Department report called his claims dubious. The US Justice Department has released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The files include records from the FBI, which had surveilled the civil rights leader as part of an effort to discredit the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Files have been posted on the website of the National Archives, which said more would be released. King died of an assassin's bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, as he increasingly extended his attention from a nonviolent campaign for equal rights for African Americans to economic issues and calls for peace. His death shook the United States in a year that would also bring race riots, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations and the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy. Earlier in 2025, US President Donald Trump's administration released thousands of pages of digital documents related to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and former president John F Kennedy, who was killed in 1963. Trump promised on the campaign trail to provide more transparency about Kennedy's death. Upon taking office, he also ordered aides to present a plan for the release of records relating to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and King. The FBI kept files on King in the 1950s and 1960s - even wiretapping his phones - because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the US and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of "abuse and overreach" in its history. The civil rights leader's family asked those who engage with the files to "do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief", and condemned "any attempts to misuse these documents". "Now more than ever, we must honour his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realisation of his dream - a society rooted in compassion, unity, and equality," said a statement from King's family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62. "During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation," they said, referring to the then-FBI director. James Earl Ray, a segregationist and drifter, confessed to killing King but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998. King's family said it had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee in 1999 that led to a jury unanimously concluding "that our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme". "The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr Ray was set up to take the blame. Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs." Jowers, once a Memphis police officer, told ABC's Prime Time Live in 1993 that he participated in a plot to kill King. A 2023 Justice Department report called his claims dubious. The US Justice Department has released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The files include records from the FBI, which had surveilled the civil rights leader as part of an effort to discredit the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Files have been posted on the website of the National Archives, which said more would be released. King died of an assassin's bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, as he increasingly extended his attention from a nonviolent campaign for equal rights for African Americans to economic issues and calls for peace. His death shook the United States in a year that would also bring race riots, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations and the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy. Earlier in 2025, US President Donald Trump's administration released thousands of pages of digital documents related to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and former president John F Kennedy, who was killed in 1963. Trump promised on the campaign trail to provide more transparency about Kennedy's death. Upon taking office, he also ordered aides to present a plan for the release of records relating to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and King. The FBI kept files on King in the 1950s and 1960s - even wiretapping his phones - because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the US and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of "abuse and overreach" in its history. The civil rights leader's family asked those who engage with the files to "do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief", and condemned "any attempts to misuse these documents". "Now more than ever, we must honour his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realisation of his dream - a society rooted in compassion, unity, and equality," said a statement from King's family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62. "During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation," they said, referring to the then-FBI director. James Earl Ray, a segregationist and drifter, confessed to killing King but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998. King's family said it had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee in 1999 that led to a jury unanimously concluding "that our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme". "The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr Ray was set up to take the blame. Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs." Jowers, once a Memphis police officer, told ABC's Prime Time Live in 1993 that he participated in a plot to kill King. A 2023 Justice Department report called his claims dubious. The US Justice Department has released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The files include records from the FBI, which had surveilled the civil rights leader as part of an effort to discredit the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Files have been posted on the website of the National Archives, which said more would be released. King died of an assassin's bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, as he increasingly extended his attention from a nonviolent campaign for equal rights for African Americans to economic issues and calls for peace. His death shook the United States in a year that would also bring race riots, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations and the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy. Earlier in 2025, US President Donald Trump's administration released thousands of pages of digital documents related to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and former president John F Kennedy, who was killed in 1963. Trump promised on the campaign trail to provide more transparency about Kennedy's death. Upon taking office, he also ordered aides to present a plan for the release of records relating to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and King. The FBI kept files on King in the 1950s and 1960s - even wiretapping his phones - because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the US and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of "abuse and overreach" in its history. The civil rights leader's family asked those who engage with the files to "do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief", and condemned "any attempts to misuse these documents". "Now more than ever, we must honour his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realisation of his dream - a society rooted in compassion, unity, and equality," said a statement from King's family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62. "During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation," they said, referring to the then-FBI director. James Earl Ray, a segregationist and drifter, confessed to killing King but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998. King's family said it had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee in 1999 that led to a jury unanimously concluding "that our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme". "The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr Ray was set up to take the blame. Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs." Jowers, once a Memphis police officer, told ABC's Prime Time Live in 1993 that he participated in a plot to kill King. A 2023 Justice Department report called his claims dubious.
Otago Daily Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Trump releases Martin Luther King assassination files
The US Justice Department has released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., including records from the FBI, which had surveilled the civil rights leader as part of an effort to discredit the Nobel Peace Prize winner and his civil rights movement. Files were posted on the website of the National Archives, which said more would be released. King died of an assassin's bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, as he increasingly extended his attention from a non-violent campaign for equal rights for African Americans to economic issues and calls for peace. His death shook the United States in a year that would also bring race riots, anti-Vietnam war demonstrations and the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump's administration released thousands of pages of digital documents related to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and former president John F. Kennedy, who was killed in 1963. Trump promised on the campaign trail to provide more transparency about Kennedy's death. Upon taking office, he also ordered aides to present a plan for the release of records relating to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and King. The FBI kept files on King in the 1950s and 1960s - even wiretapping his phones - because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the US and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of "abuse and overreach" in its history. The civil rights leader's family asked those who engage with the files to "do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief," and condemned "any attempts to misuse these documents." "Now more than ever, we must honor his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realization of his dream – a society rooted in compassion, unity, and equality," they said in a statement. "During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation," the family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, said, referring to the then-FBI director. James Earl Ray, a segregationist and drifter, confessed to killing King but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998. King's family said it had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee in 1999 that led to a jury unanimously concluding "that our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme. The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr. Ray was set up to take the blame. Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs." Jowers, once a Memphis police officer, told ABC's Prime Time Live in 1993 that he participated in a plot to kill King. A 2023 Justice Department report called his claims dubious.
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Trump releases Martin Luther King assassination files
The US Justice Department has released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The files include records from the FBI, which had surveilled the civil rights leader as part of an effort to discredit the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Files have been posted on the website of the National Archives, which said more would be released. King died of an assassin's bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, as he increasingly extended his attention from a nonviolent campaign for equal rights for African Americans to economic issues and calls for peace. His death shook the United States in a year that would also bring race riots, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations and the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy. Earlier in 2025, US President Donald Trump's administration released thousands of pages of digital documents related to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and former president John F Kennedy, who was killed in 1963. Trump promised on the campaign trail to provide more transparency about Kennedy's death. Upon taking office, he also ordered aides to present a plan for the release of records relating to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and King. The FBI kept files on King in the 1950s and 1960s - even wiretapping his phones - because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the US and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of "abuse and overreach" in its history. The civil rights leader's family asked those who engage with the files to "do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief", and condemned "any attempts to misuse these documents". "Now more than ever, we must honour his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realisation of his dream - a society rooted in compassion, unity, and equality," said a statement from King's family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62. "During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation," they said, referring to the then-FBI director. James Earl Ray, a segregationist and drifter, confessed to killing King but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998. King's family said it had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee in 1999 that led to a jury unanimously concluding "that our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme". "The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr Ray was set up to take the blame. Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs." Jowers, once a Memphis police officer, told ABC's Prime Time Live in 1993 that he participated in a plot to kill King. A 2023 Justice Department report called his claims dubious.
